Rebirth in the Apocalypse: Third Time's a Charm



The hallway led to a flight of ten stairs, each riser having its own tag on it. The dim light changed to a mixture of purple and green.

"Joker vibes much?" I muttered under my breath, causing the man in front of us to spin around and stare at me.

"You might want to get your bitch to keep her mouth shut," he sneered, looking at Liu Yu Zeng. My man simply raised his eyebrow in return. 

"You might want to keep your mouth shut instead and never speak to or about my wife in that way again," replied Liu Yu Zeng with a smirk on his face. I chuckled as I watched the man turn a sickening shade of green, or maybe it was a result of the lighting. I couldn't be too sure.

"I will put up with it, but the higher-ups will never accept her disrespect," he pressed, not wanting to be seen backing down but also not wanting to start anything either. 

"But is she wrong?" asked Liu Yu Zeng, waving his hand around to the lights, the graffiti, the random stickers on the door at the top of the stairs. It looked like we were about to enter a madhouse. 

How appropriate. 

The man ignored him and went up to the door. Entering a series of knocks that sounded a lot like 'shave and a haircut' to me, the door was opened from the other side.

"Password," asked the gruff voice of the bouncer. I rolled my eyes at the stupidity of this all. It wasn't like they were being super sneaky. We managed to find this place in less than fifteen minutes after entering the city. A single question to a random human on the street, and we were in.

And let's face it, it wasn't like the police were chomping at the bit to shut down clubs like this. They had their hands full, living their own life. No… this show was simply to make these guys feel superior like this was an exclusive club that only certain people could get into.

Then again, I guess only certain people would come here to make and waste their money when the world went to shit around them. 

After the correct knock and subsequent verbal password were exchanged, the door opened to a scene that I was more than a little used to. 

It was a massive room. Or, at least, it would be a massive room if there wasn't a giant metal cage in the center of it surrounded by booths and tables. There was a staircase along the far side that all the poor plebians could go up to watch the fights from the second floor. However, the best seats were reserved for those that could afford them.

There was bright red lighting all around the cage and outer walls. I didn't know if that was to recreate the flames of Hell or because red blood didn't show up as well under red light. You know, in case they needed to protect the delicate sensibilities of the rich and famous. Couldn't afford to have the sight of blood ruining their dinner.

I sighed as I looked around. At least I didn't have to deal with the strip club lighting in the Reaver's pits. They had bright white lights, letting everyone see exactly what was going on inside the cage. 

For the most part, the room was empty except for a few scantily clad women running around with bottles of alcohol, getting the place ready to open. 

"What do you think?" asked our escort, looking at us like he expected us to be gushing over how fantastic this place was. "We are the best flight club in the country. Not only for our talents but what we can provide for our clients." He looked at me when he said the last part, causing Liu Yu Zeng to growl and reach out. Wrapping his hand around the other man's throat, he dragged him closer.

"I think I have made myself very clear about the level of respect I expect to be displayed to my woman. She is mine. She is my Queen, and Gods help anyone that disrespects her. Do you understand?" I watched as some of Liu Yu Zeng's black mist managed to escape his control and poured into the mouth and eyes of the man before us.

"I think we understand," said a voice, and I watched a well-dressed man slowly descend the metal stair. "You are a poison user? What are you doing among us lowly humans?"

Liu Yu Zeng sneered as he flung the dead body of our escort to the floor. The newcomer waved his fingers, and two bouncers quickly grabbed the body, dragging it away.

My man watched the whole scene like it was nothing. Adjusting the cuffs of his red dress shirt, he returned the man's look. "Why should I go out and kill zombies for some base to profit off the supplies I bring back? I am no one's lackey."

"And what name are you fighting under?" asked the boss of the club, completely ignoring the lackey comment. The poor idiot probably thought that he would be the exception to the rule. He just didn't know how right he was about having a God in his midst. After all, the First Horseman, Disease, was standing right in front of him. 

  "The Red Dragon," replied Liu Yu Zeng, looking at the man that was still standing on top of the stairs above us. 

He snorted. "As in Red Dragon Syndicate? How original. We have had at least twenty people wanting to claim that name. They all died the first time they stepped inside the ring. What makes you so different?"

"Because I am Liu Yu Zeng, head of the Red Dragon Syndicate and the only one that can claim that name."

There was a pause as tension rose inside the room, everyone stopping whatever they were doing when they heard Liu Yu Zeng's words.

"Liu Yu Zeng? As in one of the Princes of City H?" asked the Boss, a stunned look on his face.

"Hardly," scoffed Liu Yu Zeng, looking up at the man like he was nothing. "I am Liu Yu Zeng, as in the King of City H."